Master car icing machine



Feb. 17, 1953 H, O McL MASTER CAR ICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1950 IVENTOR. ffcz'mld QMCZQL' Feb. 17, 1953 H, o McLAlN MASTER CAR ICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1950 F 19543 H. o. MCLAIN MASTER CAR ICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1950 flarolci z m BY Q i Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASTERv CAR ICING MACHINE Harold 0. McLain, Highland Park, Ill.

ApplicationJuly 12, 1950, Serial-No. 173,290

4. Claims.

The. present invention relates generally to the servicing or icing of refrigerator cars, but more particularly to a mobile master car icing unit which will perform the complete icing service with a. minimum amount of labor and within a minimum length of time.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved master car icing unit which embodies all the necessary apparatus for complete ice servicing of refrigerator cars in the form of a simplified and compact mobile machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved master car icing machine in which an ice breaker and crusher mechanism, an ice crusher and slinging mechanism and a salt supply mechanism are carried by wheeled mobile frame. in a compact arrangement of the operating elements thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide. a self-propelled. ice servicing machine for furnishing complete icing service of refrigerator cars or the like in which all the operating elements,. including the ice block conveyor, are controlled by the operator from the operators station on the mobile machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mobile refrigerator car icing. machine in which the ice breaker and crusher mechanism, the ice crusher and slinger mechanisms and the salt supply and distributing mechanism are all coordinated and synchronous- Iy-operated and assembled on a singled wheeled frame under the control of one operator on the machine.

. These and. other objects are accomplished by providing a. construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a side elevational skeleton view of my improved ice servicing machine with certain parts omitted for. the purpose of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the. same.

In illustrating one form of my improved mobile car icing machine may assume in practice, I' have shown the same as comprising a relatively long longitudinally extending main frame, generally indicated by the reference character it. This frame consists of two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced apart main side frame members or I- beams H and spaced apart transverse channel and I-beamsl2 and I2 respectively.

The main frame II! is suitably supported on front, rear and intermediate wheeled trucks, generally indicated by the reference character 13. The intermediate truck wheels I3. are suitably andv operatively geared to and driven by an electric motor 14 secured to and carried by the main frame H1. The wheeled trucks 13 are adapted to. travel on the conventional spaced apart .railway tracks !5 which, in turn, are suitably imbedded .in the ground between the conventional spaced apart railway tracks IS on which are mounted the con.- ventional railway refrigerator cars [1 to be iced or serviced by my master car icing. machine. Mounted, adjacent one. end. of the main frame I'll of the mobile unit is a conventional ice crusher and slinger, generally indicated by the reference character :8. This ice crusher and slinger unit i8 comprises briefly a housing [9 in which is mounted a rotary ice. crushing cylinder 211, an endless conveyor 2| positioned horizontally within the housing l9 which conveys the. ice blocks toward the crushing cylinder 2.0.v Connected to the housing 19 is a rotary slinger, generally indicated by thev reference character 22 which discharges the crushed ice through a tangentially connected conduit 23. An electric motor,v generally indicated by the reference character .24, is mounted on the main frame l0 and is. operatively connected to the rotor for driving the same within the slinger housing 22. A separate motor (not shown) is mounted on the housing IQ for driving the crushing cylinder 20. Mountedon an intermediate portion of the main frame I0 is a conventional type of ice breaking and crushing mechanism, generally indicated by the reference character 25. The ice breaking. and crushing mechanism includes a housing 2.6 in which is suitably journaled an ice crushing pronged cylinder 21. A suitable electric motor (not shown) may be. mounted on the housing 26 to operatively drive the cylinder 21. Extending from a point adjacent the receiving end of the horizontal conveyor 2| to a point substantially below the center of the ice crushing cylinder 21 is. a horizontally extending endless ice block con.- veyor, generally indicated by the reference character 28. The endless conveyor 28 in thisginstance comprises a series of steel slats 29 suitablyconnected to spaced apart chains. which, in turn, are trained about the spaced apart rollers or sprocket wheels 30. Extending from a point vertically below the ice breaker and crusher mechanism 25 and below the delivery end of the ice block'conveyor 28, isan upwardly and rearwardly inclined crushedice elevating and conveying mechanism, generally indicated by the ref- 3 erence character 3|. This crushed ice elevator frame 3! is located between the two longitudinally extending I-beams l l of the main frame Hi and extends substantially at an angle of fortyfive degrees with respect to the horizontal main frame. The elevator frame 3| comprises a trough-like structure which includes oppositely disposed spaced apart sides 32 and a bottom 33. The elevator 3| is supported in position by oppositely disposed and spaced apart angle members 34 which have their lower ends secured to the opposite ends of the transverse channels l2 and their upper portions secured to the side frames 32 of the elevator frame 3|. The conveyor and elevator 3| includes .a pair of endless chains 35 which have their opposite ends trained about horizontally spaced apart upper and lower pairs of sprocket wheels 36. Secured to the opposite chains 35 at uniformly spaced apart intervals, are transverse plates or crushed.

ice conveying paddles 31. The upper delivery end of the elevator and conveyor 3| delivers the crushed ice into a trough or scoop-like gate, generally indicated by the reference character 38. This gate 38 has a semi-cylindrical bottom 39 and a rear vertical transverse wall 43. The gate 38 is pivotally supported on a bracket 4! through the medium of a longitudinally extending shaft 42 which, in turn, is journaled in the opposite bearing portion 43 of the bracket 4|. The gate 38 is pinned to the shaft 42 by a pin 44. Secured to the rear end of the shaft 42 is a hand lever 45 which is adapted to be moved in to any one of three positions of adjustment through the medium of a sector 45 and locked in position by a conventional detent mechanism associated with the handle. Obviously by manipulating the bandle 45, the gate 38 may be tilted to either the full line position or the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings for the purpose of discharging the crushed ice to the chutes on either side of the mobile unit for servicing the cars in the manner hereinafter described. The gate 38 and its associated bracket 4| are supported on the top end of the vertical standard 41 which has its lower end secured to one of the I-beams l 2' carried by the main frame It). Positioned below the operating handle 45 is an operators platform or station, generally indicated by the reference character 48 which has its inner end secured to the two rear vertical angle members 34 and braced by diagonal braces 49. The usual guard rails, generally indicated by the reference character 58, surround the platform and entrance to and exit from the platform is secured by the usual ladder extending from the main frame In of the machine.

. The crushed ice is discharged from the mobile unit to the open hatches 52 on the opposite sides of and opposite ends of the refrigerator cars I! by oppositely disposed chutes 53. These chutes 53 are pivoted, as shown at 54, to a transverse bracket 55 which, in turn, has its opposite ends secured to the vertical opposite angle members 34. Pivoted, as shown at 5B, are supplement or extension chutes 51 which permit the discharge of ice to the near side or far side opened hatches on either side of the car. These extension chutes are actuated from the operators platform 48 by oppositely disposed levers 58 which are pivoted at 59 to hinged brackets 68 of each of the chutes 53. An intermediate portion of each of these levers 58 are connected by a rod 6|. Both chutes 53 may be raised or lowered from the full line position to the dotted line position through the medium of a sliding bracket 52 which embraces '4 and is slidably mounted on the vertical standard 41. The bracket 62 is provided with apertured ears 63 in which the lower ends of two oppositely disposed rods 64 are pivoted. The upper ends of these rods 64 are pivotally connected, as shown at 65, to brackets 65 secured to the opposite chutes 53. Connected as shown at 64, to the bracket 62 is a cable 65' which is trained about a pulley 66. The pulley 65', in turn, is journaled in the bracket 61 which, in turn, is secured adjacent the upper end of the standard 41. The other end of the cable is connected to an electrically driven windlass, generally indicated by the reference character 68. Suitable electrical controls (not shown) extend to the operatorsplatform for controlling this electrically operatedl Windlass. Positioned on one side of the mainframe ID and substantially at the level of the top lap of the conveyor 28 is an inclined chute 59 over which the ice blocks are deflected by a deflector, generally indicated by the referencecharacter 70. The deflector 10 is provided with two diverging curved arms H and is pivoted, as shown at 12', to the main frame l8 so that the ice blocks may be deflected from an associated longitudinally extending conveyor to the mobile unit on the machine.

In a manner similar to that disclosed in my co-pending joint application, Serial No. 778,004, filed October 4, 1947, now Patent No. 2,544,431, a longitudinally extending ice block conveyor, generally indicated by the reference character 72, is positioned adjacent the mobile unit for conveying the ice blocks in a path longitudinally of and one side of the travel of the mobile unit so that they can be deflected from this conveyor on to the mobile machine. This conveyor 72 furnishes the ice blocks from a sup. ply source to the unit and can be actuated in either direction of travel. This endless ice" block conveyor 52 is supported in an elevated position slightly above that of the horizontal conveyor 28 and is supported in this position by a longitudinally extending structural support, generally indicated by the reference character 13, the details of which are more specifically dis closed and. described in my aforementioned copending application and for a more detailed de-* scription, reference to this application may be had. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the ice blocks on the conveyor 12 and on the conveyor 28 are generally indicated by the reference character 14 to illustrate the manner in which these ice blocks are conveyed and. deflected on the various conveyors. I I

One of the essential features of the present invention is the positioning of a salt bin under the inclined crushed ice elevator so as to conserve space and make a more compact unit for supplying the necessary amount of salt to the crushed ice being discharged laterally from the mobile unit to the ice chutes into the various hoppers of the refrigerator cars. This salt supply and distributing mechanism includes a salt bin, generally indicated by the reference character 15, which is mounted on the main frame [0 of the mobile unit and in a position below the inclined elevator and conveyor 3| as clearly disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This salt bin 15 includes an inclined top 16, end walls 71 and opposite parallel side Walls 18 and is located between the vertical angle supports 34 positioned on the opposite sides of the machine. The salt bin 15 is provided with an inclined bottom as shown at 19, so as to discharge the salt laterally bygravity through an opening 80 into a conduit 8| from where it is discharged into the lower end of a salt elevating housing, generally indicated by the reference character 82. This elevating housing 82 is substantially rectangular in cross section and has mounted therein an endless elevating chain 83. The elevating chain 83 is trained about upper and lower sprocket wheels 84 and 85 respectively. Secured to the chain 83 at uniform intervals throughout the length thereof and in a manner well understood in the art, are salt carrying buckets 8%. As these buckets are moved passed the lower end of the elevating housing 82, the salt is discharged through the opening Bl in the lower end of the housing from the conduit Bi and elevated upwardly to the upper end of the housing' and discharged through a'spout 88 into a elevator housing 8.2 is suitably supported on the outside of one of the I-beam members H of the mainframe H2 at its lower end, and is suitably secured to a longitudinal frame member 9!] at its upper end. The frame member 98 is secured at the upper ends of the opposite pairs of vertical angle frame members 34. The salt elevator and conveyor 83 is driven by an electric motor and associated transmission mechanism, generally indicated by the reference character 9|, which is mounted on the longitudinal extending frame member 90 adjacent the upper end of the elevator to operatively' drive the sprocket wheel 84. Controls for this electric motor extend to the operators station 48 so that a regulated amount of salt may be discharged into the scoop-like gate 38 as the ice is being discharged laterally into either of the chutes 53. The funnel-like member 89 has a converging bottom which, in turn, is connected to and communicates with an inwardly inclined conduit 92 for properly discharging the-salt into the scoop-like gate 38 when it is tilted in either the full line or dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Summarizing the advantages and functions of operation of my improved mobile icing machine for complete ice servicing of refrigerator cars, it will readily be seen that the operator on the station or platform 48 may manipulate the controls for actuating or propelling the machine in either direction on the tracks l5 and stop the machine at intervals for properly aligning the chutes 53 with the hatch openings 52 of the refrigerator car ll. Then by properly positioning the deflector or switch E0 so as to engage the ice blocks M on the longitudinal ice block conveyor E2, the ice blocks may be de flected on the conveyor 28. From here they can be conveyed into the ice breaker and crusher mechanism where the crushed ice will be dropped downwardly onto the receiving end of the inclined elevator and conveyor 3|. The crushed ice is then conveyed upwardly and discharged into the scoop-like gate 38 from where it is discharged in either one of the laterally inclined chutes 53 to the hoppers of the refrigerator cars on either side of the mobile machine.

In this connection it will also be noted that within the reach of the operator on the operators platform 43, the control for the desired or measured amount of salt may be regulated. In this connection the salt is elevated and conveyed from the bin 15 through the conduit 8| into the opening 81 of the elevating housing 82 and elevated upwardly by the buckets 86 into salt directing or funnel-like member-B9. The- 6 the funnel like member asfromfwherezitis .discharged through the conduit 92 intoithettscoop like gate 38 tobe discharged with the crushed ice into the hoppers of the refrigerator cars. The ice chutes 53 on the opposite-'sides of the mobile unit may'beraised'o'r lowered through the medium of the cable 65 and electrically driven Windlass 68 in the mannerherein'before described; The adjustment of these"chutes,. .of course, is controlled from the operators posttion on the station 48. Similarly, the-oppositely disposed levers 58 may be operated from the operator's station 48 for properly positioningth'e chute extensions 51 to discharge the-crushed;- ice into the near or far side openings or hoppers of the refrigerator cars. 1

Should the operator desire'to top-iceperish able material in the refrigerator 'carsi'through the opened doors,'the conveyor 28 may bebperated in the reverse direction and"contr'olled from the opera-tors station. 48 for feeding the ice blocks into the ice crusher and "slinging mechanism [8 from where it may be discharged through the conduit 23 to the-openeddoors of the refrigerator cars.

In this connection it will also be observed that the direction of travel as well as the start and stop of the ice block conveyor 12 may be con-- trolled from the operators-station 48 so thatlobviously the operation of all the various units are under control of the operator on :the station 48 of the mobile unit. I

From the above description it will be seen' tha I have provided a very simple, compact and an efficiently operated mobile ice servicin'g'machine for servicing refrigerator cars and one inwhich the operating elements thereof are in the con-'- trol and under theobservation of one operator on the operators platform. This unitarycon' trol. not only simplifies and increasesthe efficiency of the ice servicing operation, but also dispenses with the number of men heretofore required to perform these various operations and reduces to a minimum theloss 'of'time ermployed for this function.

While in the above specification I have-described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course,be-understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification maybe made without-departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and 'desi're'to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A refrigerator car icing machine comprising a horizontal frame, wheeled trucks for supporting said frame, a horizontal ice block conveying mechanism mounted on said frame, an ice breaking and crushing mechanism mounted on said frame and located at one end of said ice block conveying mechanism, a crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism mounted at an angle with respect to said horizontal frame for receiving the crushedice from the ice breaking and crushing mechanism and elevating the same to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, laterally projecting ice chutes mounted on the opposite sides of said frame for receiving the crushed ice from the delivery end of said elevating and conveying mechanism and discharging the same to the hoppers of the refrigerator cars, and means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said chutes for simultaneously raising and lowering said chutes.

2. 'A refrigerator car icing machine comprising a horizontal frame, wheeled trucks for supporting said frame, a horizontal ice block conveying mechanism mounted on said frame, an ice breaking and crushing mechanism mounted on said frame and located .at one end of said ice block conveying mechanism, a crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism mounted at an angle'with respect to said horizontal frame for receiving the crushed ice from the ice breaking and crushing mechanism and elevating the same to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, laterally projecting ice chutes mounted on the opposite sides of said frame for receiving the crushed ice from the delivery end of said elevating and conveying mechanism and discharging the same to the hoppers of the refrigerator cars, a;;trou hgatepivoted on said frame between said chutes for directing the crushed ice into either of said chutes, and a vertically movable member mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said laterally projecting chutes for simultaneously raising and lowering said chutes.

3. A refrigerator car icing machine comprising a horizontal frame, wheeled trucks for supporting said frame, a horizontal ice block conveying mechanism mounted on said frame, an ice breaking and crushing mechanism mounted on said frame and located at one end of said ice block conveying mechanism, a crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism mounted at an angle with respect to said horizontal frame for receiving the crushed ice from the ice breaking and crushing mechanism and elevating the same to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator .cars, laterally projecting ice chutes mounted on the opposite sides of said frame for receiving the crushed ice from the delivery end of said elevating and conveying mechanism and discharging the same to the hoppers of the refrigerator cars, a salt bin mounted on said frame under said crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism, a salt elevating mechanism mounted on said frame for elevating the salt from the bin to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, a trough gate pivoted on said frame between said chutes for directing the crushed ice into either of said chutes, means mounted on said frame for directing the salt from the delivery end of the salt elevator into said trough gate, and power actuated means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to both of said chutes for simultaneously raising and lowering said chutes.

4. A refrigerator car icing machine comprising a horizontal frame, wheeled trucks for supporting said frame, a horizontal ice block conveying mechanism mounted on said frame, an ice breaking and crushing mechanism mounted on said frame and located at one end of said ice block conveying mechanism, a crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism mounted at an angle with respect to said horizontal frame for receiving the crushed ice from the ice breaking and crushing mechanism and elevating the same to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, laterally projecting ice chutes mounted on the opposite sides of said frame for receiving the crushed ice from the delivery end of said elevating and conveying mechanism and discharging the same to the hoppers of the refrigerator cars, a salt bin mounted on said frame under said crushed ice elevating and conveying mechanism, a salt elevating mechanism mounted on said frame for elevating the salt from the bin to an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, a trough gate pivoted on said frame between said chutes for directing the crushed ice into either of said chutes, means mounted on said frame for directing the salt from the delivery end of the salt elevator into said trough gate, an operators station mounted on said frame at an elevation above the tops of the refrigerator cars, power actuated means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to both of said chutes for simultaneously raising and lowering said chutes, and control means within easy reach of the operator on the operators station for controlling the operation of said power means.

HAROLD O. MCLAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 739,962 Werner Sept. 29, 1903 894,425 Culver July 28, 1908 1,140,215 Tobin May 18, 1915 1,247,575 Pratt Nov. 20, 1917 1,506,907 Jackson Sept. 2, 1924 2,063,431 Grayson Dec. 8, 1936 2,078,379 Grayson Apr. 27, 1937 2,516,166 Wiezer July 25, 1950 2,544,431 McClain et a1 Mar. 6, 1951 

